AIBU to be furious about this??

[Kirsten567]

I currently live in a student accommodation (I'm a masters' student)

My course is quite challenging and I'm also applying for jobs right now so I need loads of peace and quiet.

Unfortunately, my landlords are extremely careless about noisy tenants and there is loud, banging music playing in my building at odd hours of the day and night.

I've complained numerous times and I've even had to change my room TWICE due to noisy neighbours. Unfortunately, they always tell me that there is nothing they can do about the noise. They insist that people have a right to listen to music in their rooms and if it bothers me I should study in a library or get earplugs. They are especially unhelpful when it happens during the day, saying that unless it is after midnight they won't tell anyone to turn down the music. :( :(
I'm sick of arguing with them.

AIBU to think that in a student accommodation priority should be given to studying??? If someone wants to listen to music then they can, but can't it also be done at a lower volume and bass?? Isn't it more important for me to study than for them to have wild parties?

What's worse is that the official guidelines clearly state loud music is not allowed in the building and yet the management of this accommodation doesn't take that seriously.

AIBU to think that they should be more supportive of students who are studying and more firm with those who are disturbing others???

yabu use earplugs or go to the library.

I don't think you are unreasonable. There needs to be a compromise and it sounds like there just isn't one. When I was in halls very excessive noise was stamped on. It was good enough to work in. Can't you find a shared house closer?

Yes, that's what I think would be a good compromise. The usual noise of TV, low music, people talking, traffic etc is absolutely a part of life but feeling like you're constantly in a night club is not.

I just requested them to turn the music to a more reasonable volume. Don't know why that's so hard.

landofsoapandglory: I sympathise with you :( Noisy neighbours are an absolute nightmare.

This time of year there should be spaces from people who have dropped out, and you won't be the first student who's needed advice on moving, the uni should be able to advise, inc on ending your current lease.

YANBU - noise pollution is an utter killer at best of times, let alone when trying study. If honest, until I had experience of it, I WOULD have posted YABU - but once experienced 'properly'/hard-core, know how draining/frustrating/life-sapping/sleep-deprivong/activity-depriving/MH issues inducing it can be (had forgotten TBH until saw OP, but it truely was grim - to point where I actually moved house DURING my Easter exams in an uber intense one year F/T MBA) So MEGA sympathies & >>>>

BTW, If you are correct however re their breaking their own T&C's in contract, then THEY are already in breach of/have breached contract, which could be the answer to your NOT being 'stuck' there as contract no longer intact - why not post in Legal for advice?

And for £200 a week, honestly I would rent a private room in a private shared house - having checked it throughly first - that's both more peaceful and nearer Uni.

You'd be worth contacting Env Health at your local council land if it's every night. We have the occasional post-pub Spandau Ballet plus whopping great row next door so you both have my sympathy.

You'd be worth contacting Env Health at your local council land if it's every night. We have the occasional post-pub Spandau Ballet plus whopping great row next door so you both have my sympathy.

You'd be worth contacting Env Health at your local council land if it's every night. We have the occasional post-pub Spandau Ballet plus whopping great row next door so you both have my sympathy.

Yanbu . Feel for you must be terrible when trying to study , hopfully you get sorted soon.

Noise is irritating and distracting when you are working but you cannot expect everybody else to adjust their lives to suit you.

there is expecting "everybody else to adjust their lives to suit you." and common decency.

When I was at uni the nurses in halls would have all night parties after their placements had ended, to them it didn't matter if we had placements the next day or exams it was "their right to enjoy their home".
So when the nurses had their finals a group of students in halls decided to have an all night party. The night did not end well but it ended the nurses all night partying.

I rented a flat for 3 years with no problems/noise till a change of tennants. Their excuse for the noise was that they had a "right to enjoy their property".

The agent's response was that "I was going to hear noise in a flat" even though I didn't before.

It seems that those saying that the OP is unreasonable have little or no consideration for others.

Rights always come with responsibilities. If it's your right to listen to music, it's also your responsibility to ensure you don't disturb other people. So listen to music at volume that isn't offensive. It's really that simple but somehow my landlord just doesn't get it.

Isn't there a contract issue here, if they told you that you would not be next to undergrads, and you are, they've breached the contract. Can you use that as an out?

Surely you have contacted your local authority's environmental health department, which will have officers experienced in dealing with noise nuisance complaints and measuring devices?

So YABU to think it is solely your landlord's responsibility. If the building met Building Standards as to noise insulation when it was built, and they have issued warnings to the worst offenders already, short of actually moving in with them and intervening when noise happens, I don't see what else they can do.

Its odd to have chosen accommodation which is too far to access your studying.

Write formally complaining and stating what the rules are.

Also approach their music players yourself and appeal to their better side.

greenformica: Done all that. Made no difference. :(

LittleFeileFooFoo: The contract didn't state I wouldn't be next to undergrads, but they did verbally assure me. I suppose I am stupid to have fallen for it.

I don't know what motivated you to chose student accommodation if you are a Masters student, unless you have come from overseas and don't know your way around the rental market in the UK. You are also paying a hell of a lot a month for one bedroom!

I would fully expect student halls or private blocks of student accommodation to be full of first year students, fresh from school, enjoying their freedom, living as they please. I would not expect the atmosphere of a retirement community.

Have you actually tried speaking to the people who are making this noise? If you tell them that you are going through a busy/stressful period and that the noise they're making is disturbing you, then they may well agree to keep the noise down or within certain hours of the way.

LessMissAbs

"Its odd to have chosen accommodation which is too far to access your studying."

Varley halls of residence (brightn) is a good 40 minutes away from Falmer and 30 mins from the city centre campus (taking traffic in to consideration).

Its not that unusual.

Unami: There were complicated reasons for choosing this place. Short version is that my offer came at the last moment and I had no choice but to take the first available room because I literally had to move in within a week. I'm aware that I'm paying far too much for this place.

I don't know why it has to be one extreme or another? There is a middle line between a retirement home and a nightclub- a student accommodation should resemble neither. I was a first year too and for me living as I pleased involved things way more important than playing blaring music and acting like an idiot all day long. Coming and going as you please, eating what you want, calling your friends over for the night, shagging your boyfriend/girlfriend in your own room, waking up whenever you want- those were the aspects of freedom that most of us enjoyed and these could be enjoyed without being a pest to someone else. Disturbing neighbours and being noisy is not a part of growing older, it's a sign of immaturity and a lack of consideration for anyone else.

But yes, I have tried speaking to them. They say OK and do the same thing the next day.

tbh I expect your housemates think the same of you as you do of them. you sound like a moaner. I'd be the same as you too however and it would be driving me up the wall. I reckon you should just leave. pay so you are up to date and do one. life is too short to be his miserable, unless you can count down the days, and here aren't ma y to go. in he wan time perhaps there is a quiet pub coffee shop near you can make your base?

Hmm...I can't shake the notion that you had unrealistic expectations of student accommodation. As you say, you were a first year once too, but we often don't accurately remember the times when we acted like an idiot/annoyed people.

Anyway, as you're stuck with this now...I would, as others have suggested, get Environmental Health on the case, and if they find that the noise is excessive then claim breach of contract and move. At the very least you may be able to negotiate a discount with your landlord? If EH find there's nothing wrong, then I'm afraid that YABU.

In the meantime, working in a library is not such a bad suggestion imo. It might not be your preference, but city living involves a certain amount of noise (before EH can intervene) and that's why we have designated quiet spaces like libraries. Also, if you are a Masters student, does you uni not offer you any office space? If the noise is not so disturbing that you would still prefer not to work in a library or office, then it can't be that bad.

A less mature approach would be to retaliate and play incredibly annoying music at a similar volume and see what happens when they start complaining.

I understand why you're upset, I hate this kind of noise, but realistically you seem to have tried all the obvious options and you're left with (a) continue fuming and going over every detail of why/how this is unfair and (b) opt for some solutions. Currently you're choosing to fume.

I'm not sure that getting your moneysworth for minutes spent in the room should really be your priority here. A 40-60 minute commute each way every day is a pain, but lots of people do it. You could read or meditate or whatever on the way if it was public transport. And it's slightly odd to talk about being "forced" to work in a library as if it's beyond the pale, it's usually something that comes with the territory of being a student. If you accept this as a solution until such time as you can wriggle out of the contract, I think you will quickly become a lot calmer and more productive - which is the aim, isn't it?

Masters students at my uni are not given office spaces. Those are assigned to PHd students.

I don't understand why I have to go to the library to study when I am paying an excessive amount of money for this room anyway. I would assume I have the right to study and work in my own home rather than having to get on a bus with 10 kilos worth of books and make my way to a library every time I need to work?

Why can't they go to the nightclub across the road every time they want to listen to blaring music?

It works both ways and this can go on endlessly. All they have to do is turn down the volume. That's literally all they have to do.